France mulls early Afghanistan pullout

France has suspended its training operations in Afghanistan and is threatening to withdraw its entire force from the country early, after an Afghan wearing an army uniform shot and killed four French troops on Friday and wounded others.

The attack - the second time this month an Afghan soldier has killed French forces - came during a particularly deadly 24 hours for the international military coalition. Six US Marines also died in a helicopter crash late on Thursday.

It was the latest in a series of attacks by members of the Afghan security forces, or those dressed in their uniforms, against coalition partners that have raised fears of increased Taliban infiltration of the Afghan police and army as foreign combat forces prepare to withdraw from the country by 2014.

The impact of the French suspending training operations is unclear, but it would result in a major setback for the US-led coalition if other troop-contributing nations stopped training Afghan national security forces or decided to pull out earlier than planned.

French officials said the attack happened during a training exercise at a base jointly operated by French and Afghan forces.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy announced the French deaths in Paris and the suspension of training programs. He did not specify how many French forces or which programs would be affected.

"The French army is in Afghanistan at the service of the Afghans against terrorism and against the Taliban. The French army is not in Afghanistan so that Afghan soldiers can shoot at them," Sarkozy said.

He said if security for troops is not restored, "then the question of an early withdrawal of the French army would arise."

Defence Minister Gerard Longuet said the French soldiers were unarmed when the attacker opened fire in Gwan in the Kapisa province during a very difficult training exercise at high altitude.

"We don't know at the moment whether it's a Taliban member who infiltrated, or someone who decided (to attack) for reasons that we don't know," he said on France-2 television.

He said the Afghan was in custody of the Afghan army's 3rd brigade, held by a general "whom we trust".

A Taliban spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, praised the Afghan attacker but did not claim he was an infiltrator or provide other details.

Afghan Ministry of Defense spokesman Gen. Mohammad Zahir Azimi also said the shooting occurred while Afghan and French forces were on a joint operation in Tagab district. He also did not confirm whether the shooter was an Afghan soldier or a militant dressed as one.

"An individual in an Afghan army uniform opened fire over the French troops," he said. "This happened outside the base while they were on an operation."

The ministry sent a delegation to the area to investigate the shooting, he said, confirming that the attacker was arrested and was being questioned.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai expressed deep regret over the attack.

The number of wounded in the attack was unclear.

French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe said 15 troops were wounded but did not indicate their nationalities. Longuet said eight French troops were wounded, and the commanding officer was in serious condition.

Friday was among the most deadly days for French forces in the 10 years they have been serving in the international force in Afghanistan. The latest deaths bring to 82 the number of French troops killed in the Afghan campaign.

"From now on, all the operations of training and combat help by the French army are suspended," Sarkozy said.

The defence minister and the chief of staff of the French army are heading Friday to Kabul. Once they report back, Sarkozy said, the French government will decide how to proceed.

A big part of the French role in Afghanistan recently has been training Afghan troops and police ahead of an expected pullout in 2014 of the about 3600 French troops who are there.

Unpopular at home, Sarkozy is facing a potentially tough re-election campaign for elections in April and May and appeared determined on Friday to act swiftly and sternly to the latest troop deaths.

The candidate who tops opinion polls ahead of France's elections, Socialist Francois Hollande, said in a statement that he would aim to pull out French forces by the end of this year if he becomes president.

Friday's attack was all the more painful for the French because it came just weeks after an Afghan army soldier shot and killed two members of the French Foreign Legion serving in the NATO force on December 29. French forces fired back and killed the assailant.

It remained unclear how likely or swift a French pullout could be. France has the fourth-largest force in the international coalition.

"Today there is clearly a new truth. It is not the first time that an Afghan soldier ... assassinates French soldiers," Foreign Minister Juppe said. He called it a question of "responsibility to adapt our timetable for withdrawal by taking into account these new circumstances".

Longuet was more cautious, saying French officials should maintain calm when making any decisions.

Sarkozy said he'd discuss France's role in Afghanistan with Karzai when he visits Paris next week.

Afghan security forces or insurgents dressed in their uniforms have attacked and killed international troops or civilian trainers more than a dozen times in the past two years, according to an AP count.

The cause of Thursday's crash is still being investigated, but a coalition statement said there was no enemy activity in the area when it happened.

A senior US defense official said all six reported killed were US Marines and there was no indication that the helicopter had been hit by enemy fire.

Taliban spokesman Qari Yousef claimed insurgents shot down the helicopter, a Chinook, in Musa Qala district of Helmand province, killing all on board. The Taliban frequently exaggerate the number of people they claim to have killed.